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Bumpy: Three Wins Will Put County In “really Good Position” For PromotionFriday, August 12th, 2016

Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes says three wins from the final five matches will put Worcestershire in "a really good position" in the battle for promotion in the Specsavers County Championship.

The County will be looking to bounce back from the 10 wicket defeat against Kent at Canterbury when they take on Glamorgan at New Road starting tomorrow (11am).

Opening batsman Brett D'Oliveira is expected to return after missing the Kent game with a dislocated finger suffered during the Royal London One-Day Cup win over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge 11 days ago.

Rhodes said: "I don't think generally we were quite switched on at Canterbury. We didn't play our best cricket.

"We've got a young, promising side and they are going to have hiccups along the way and that was one of them.

"If we get three wins out of the next five games, that is going to put us in a really good position. We'd take more. To me, it's all about the next game and performing well.

"It is important to take games one at a time and not get too far ahead of yourself and the County Championship is a marathon not a sprint.

"We need to go into those last stages challenging, which we are, and we need to play well in those last stages.

"It will start off hopefully with having a good game against Glamorgan."

Worcestershire have to play the current bottom three in Glamorgan, Northamptonshire and Derbyshire at home in addition to away trips to leaders Essex and Sussex.

But Rhodes said: "Some of those sides down the bottom are just as difficult to beat as those up the top. It really doesn't matter who we are playing.

"The important thing for us is getting points and winning the games. We have put Kent to bed. We have addressed some of the issues and areas we want to improve."

D'Oliveira is Worcestershire's leading run-scorer in the Championship and Rhodes said: "We are very optimistic he will be fit. He had a good run-out yesterday and I would be very surprised if he doesn't make it."

Worcestershire have to replace paceman Kyle Abbott after his return to international duty with South Africa and left armer Jack Shantry returns to the squad.